They weren’t my bottles - I love Ramonet, but don’t own any - too much heartbreak. The generous friend who opened these owns 2 cases of each wine so it was an easy decision for him. I actually had this pair in 2024 as well and they were more open in 24. They need a long decant. The individual who opened these is of the opinion that all top wines from 2018 deserve a 5+ hour decant as apposed to 17 which is more ready on pop and pour.
To answer your question though - no I don’t regret it. I think these wines are glorious young.
I have not confirmed this rumor, but supposedly the Noel Ramonet wines will be under Diam in 2023. Would love to get some confirmation on that.
On first opening both the aroma and palate showcase white flowers, white stone minerality, and a nice marine bracing salinity.
With time (60 minutes) a brown butter quality develops on the palate, which then extends to a butterscotch taste. The acidity fades into a sweet Meyer lemon quality.
We drank the Monty and Ruchottes. I didn’t open them but don’t remember them being under DIAM. I think there would have been quite the conversation if that were the case.
I understand that the exercise is about generalizing vintages where it makes sense. Even so, I’ll start the other way around.
I decided already a year ago to drink up my 2019 Vaulorent, as I don’t believe it will improve any further. By contrast, I still have confidence that some Montée de Tonnerre will benefit from a decade of aging. But on to my generalizations.
2019: Still within its window, though moving more toward the exit. A hugely pleasurable vintage, though not the most refined.
2020: Slowly moving into its window. Wines showing pyrazines are, of course, a disappointment, but I don’t experience this to any notable degree myself. Instead, I find great fruit concentration, wound tight like a spring; when it finally unfurls one day, I think it will be insane.
2021: I can hardly comment. What I tasted led me to avoid it in my purchases.
2022: In my view just as great a vintage as 2020, but it can come across as a relatively cool rebuff in its youth.
2023: Right now it reminds me of 2019—open and rich from the starting gun. Perhaps even showing a bit more finesse.
Past few months I’ve had 2 premoxed 2017 Ramonet Batard (same case, ex-domaine, refrigerated transport to the door), 1 really bad, 1 mildly bad. Had multiple 2017 CM Clos du Caillerets, meanwhile, that were really nice.
2018 Batard was youthful and terrific in the summer, rich, layered, buffered by good acid. Should develop greater but certainly enjoyable already.
Enjoyed some 2020 1ers recently and really enjoyed them (Butteaux really stood out). They’ll benefit from additional age but are offering a lot already as they start entering their drinking window.
Has anyone been drinking Ramonet 21s? 21s seem like a mixed bag right now. Some are open and some are pretty closed. I opened a 21 lower-end PYCM and that was pretty unbalanced.
But my experiences within these last few months:
2017: Drinking well, PnP
2018: Drinking well with a few hours of air
2019: Drinking well with some air, seems a little tight. I am planning on opening some more 19s over the holidays, I’ll report back.
2020: Probably my favorite vintage right now, all of the wines I’ve tasted (Guy Amiot 1er) was big and definitely my style.
2021: Half seem open and half seem in a weird phase. I will refrain from opening any more 21s.
2022: Most of the 22s have been amazing, I think these will be really good with some time. It seems like a waste to open any of these right now. 22 Vincent Dancers were all excellent and showing well, particularly the Tete du Clos.
2023: No real experience with 23, I will probably open some during the holidays just to get a feel for the vintage.
I’ve had more than a few '21s this year and they’ve all been drinking well. Bizot, Lafon, Lamy, Bonin, Ramonet, etc. '21 was a heterogeneous vintage, though, so maybe you’re just finding not good wines.
Maybe so, I seem to enjoy 20s and 18s more than 21s. I think 21s will be better with some time. Which Ramonet 21s did you enjoy? Just purchased some Ramonet Clos du Caillerets so trying to get some insight on drinking windows.
I’m feeling lucky and grateful for how well our Vineyard Brands 2014 Dauvissat La Forêst showed last night, foil top and all. I think there’s one more in the cellar. Here’s hoping for two for two.
I’ve had consistently great showings with 14 Dauvissat - I have a 14 Vaillons on deck for next week in fact!
Glad to hear your Vineyard Brands bottling showed well. Obviously there is some serious speculation built into my theory (which may have just been disproven by @Dennis_Atick above), but I consistently source wax top bottles directly from France and over the last 2 years I’ve opened 30 bottles of Dauvissat and still never had an oxidized bottle. Including 9s, 10s, 12s, 14s, 16s, 17s…
Don’t mind the loud banging noise - that’s just me furiously knocking on wood
Does anybody have any experience with Chanson? I’ve seen some Clos des Mouches Blanc 2020 for a decent price and wondered if there was a reason for it being cheaper than expected!
Keep calm and Carillon. I haven’t had a ton of 19s lately. This was very Carillon Puligny- maybe a tad to the rich side. Unctuous. A pleasurable and gulpable wine more than an introspective wine. Drinking well.
